My step project was a 3D modeling course. It entailed making 3D models using Maya and texturing them in Substance 3D painter.
My assumption of how difficult things are has changed. To me before the course I always thought of 3D modeling as an extremely difficult if not impossible art form for me. However, after meeting with my mentor and only learning about the different modeling tools in the software I was able to see that 3D modeling isn’t as difficult as I originally thought. By actually learning about the tools provided I was able to make 3D models that were not professional quality, but they still made me proud to have made them.
My mentor really helped to change my assumption about 3D modeling as even when the course went into complex task, he would show shortcuts and ways to simplify the task to make the process simpler. One example of this was in the course I needed to make textures for the 3D models and the course explaned the texturing as building up every single layer. However, my mentor showed me how to get premade textures that looked good and then edit them to fit the models I was making. My mentor would also show me things that he had learned in his experience as a 3D modeler which gave me a view into the more advanced side of 3D modeling.
The course had class videos that I had to watch each week and make a model based on what I learned. These weekly videos did a very good job of building upon each other, explaining new tools, and having me use those tools in my weekly projects. This helped to change my assumption about 3D modeling as it showed me that just by knowing and understanding the tools I could make things I previously thought impossible.
For the second half of the course, I was tasked with making a more complex model that was based on something in real life that I had around me so I could see what I was modeling as I was modeling it. This helped me a lot as even when I would make some part of the model that was not the same as the real model it was just my creative interpretation. This reduced my assumptions about 3D modeling as it showed me that 3D models don’t have to be perfect and you need to keep changing the model until you can be proud of it.
This change is very significant to my life because it changes how I will face new things that seem difficult to me. This course showed me that even though I thought 3D modeling was super difficult, just by knowing the useful tools I could be decent at 3D modeling. In the future when I need to learn something new, I try it with an open mind and look for the things that can simplify the task when I am first learning about it.
